Screening

So, I was thinking today about a character in a movie, and her process of screening potential partners. She would approach them and ask: Are you single? Are you gay? Are you working? Then she would kiss them. No small talk, no asking a million questions, not months and months of "getting to know each other," and then months and months of "really getting to know each other." The important questions asked, the chemistry experienced, and a yes or no within a few seconds of meeting someone. [Lisa Kudrow, in "P.S. I Love You," playing "Denise"]

I recently heard about a friend of a friend (no, really, my friend knows this person), who joined an online dating website, where potential "matches" were created by filling out questionnaires. One of her questions was "Are you sexist?" If the boy answered "no," he was not even considered, if he answered "yes," he was.

With this friend we also talked about hearing stories about companies who would ask in their job applications, "Are you honest?" And if you say "yes," you they won't hire you. Or similar things.

I was thinking today that I kind of like this. This process is potentially is limiting, but it can also potentially cut  a lot of bullshit out of relationships.

What would my screening process be though. That is the question. What is "most important" for me to know when interacting with potential partners?

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A New Earth

This was my second reading of this book. My impressions upon finishing it again was that this book has some incredible treasures contained in it, and I absorbed only a handful. I am left with the desire to buy the book on tape and just listen to it over and over again. Even if you are not a spiritual person, this book can change your life, the way you live and experience this life. It offers wise advice, in an easy to read format. However, it is also an intelligent read. I was a little demotivated to read the book because it has been such a widely promoted book, but the promotion and praise, I believe is justified. This also has the potential to lead the reader down countless other trails that lead to further growth and build the awaking movement that needs to happen. I think, perhaps, this book will be one of my favorites when I finally "get it."

Air

So, my newest favorite song is by a band called Air. Curious to know more, searched wikipedia, and pandoras profiles on the band. The are French, from Versailles. The duo, Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel, met in college. 

I enjoyed knowing the story of their name. It is a backronym, Amor, Imagination, Reve, in English: Love, Imagination and Dream.

I love the stream of thought my mind follows with those words. Love, the overused word that still has such powerful meaning connected to it. It is the great healer, the anecdote of fear, and the key which opens so many doors. Leading to imagination, and the love that blooms from creativity, and exploring possibilities. At first I had a hiccup into dream, but, then thought: dreams are where your imaginings can be real, they can be lived and experienced. I like it. Love, Imagination, Dream. Air. Listen. :)

Also, I happened to read this in "A New Earth" about dreams and the dreamer. About how something in dreams must be real. How this life could be looked back upon, and perhaps questioned, "was it all just a dream."

"There is  the dream, and there is the dreamer of the dream. The dream is a short lived play of forms. It is the world--relatively, but not absolutely real. Then there is the dreamer, the absolute reality in which the forms come and go. The dreamer is not the person. The person is part of the dream. The dreamer is the substratum in which the dream appears, that which makes the dream possible. It is the absolute behind the relative, the timeless behind time, the consciousness in and behind form. The dreamer is consciousness itself--who you are.

To awaken from the dream is our purpose now. When we are awake within the dream, the ego-created earth-drama comes to an end and a more benign and wondrous dream arises..."

sources: 1, 2, 3 (pgs 208-210)

The Smell of Your Skin

I dream of the moment 
I noticed
the smell of your skin


wild
earthy
like sage
dust
sweat
rocks
vitality
everything


you woke me up


I close my eyes and drink you in
please 
time 
freeze
I want to stay here
breathe here
be here


memories are jaded
by the way you smell now
what happened
to the smell of your skin?




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Influences

When I was a little girl I had a number of heros; people as well as fictional characters whom I admired and aspired to be like. It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that one of these characters, who I continue to admire and aspire to be like is Anne. You know, of Green Gables. The character who epitomizes Anne for me is Megan Follows in the series produced by CBC. Though fictional, she is real to so many people, and a bosom buddy to me.

I love Anne's spunk, her creativity, her talent, enthusiasm and love of life, ability to adapt, her drive, and I could go on. But something that I have thought about lately, and would like to express more in my own life is the fearlessness demonstrated by Anne. She is not afraid to do what she feels is right, even though she may be punished, criticized or ridiculed. She also seems to have the courage to leap into the dark in order to experience a new adventure.

I feel like I used to express this more, but have lost some of my courage, or gained more fear. It is a process, this thing we call life. Every day is new, but can quickly be wasted in monotony and mindlessness. I would like to be full of life, enjoying experiences, and saying yes to opportunities. Perhaps I should read about my dear friend Anne to find inspiration. :)

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Good Omens

First of all, I have to admit that approximately 70% of the humor of this book was lost to me. I don't have the religious or historical background to fully appreciate its brilliance. That being said, I very much enjoyed the journey this book took me on. A mockery and tale of the apocalypse, demons, angels, witches, witch-hunters, and all the mortals that lie between them. Not my favorite book of all time, but worth the read.

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Addictions

So, I am not a huge video game player. I have dabbled with them throughout my youth. Mostly on long summer days, and when my brother miraculously invited me to duel him. I usually did not get very far; would beat a handful of levels, and then die, get frustrated, and do something else. A nice book, or perhaps a movie. However, there are a few games that once I start playing, I become something of an addict for a varying period of time. Three to be exact. In chronological order:

Age of Empires II

I like farming, building civilizations, and towns, and occasionally war. I don't usually play this game to destroy the enemy, though, admittedly, this is very fun to do every now and again. My favorite is playing this game with other people that I know. My brother, when I was dating/married my first husband we played with his friends, my friends, my step-dad, the works. 

Yoshi's Story

This was my second addiction. I actually beat this game, and I think it may be the only Nintendo game that I have beaten, every level, or in this case page, and nearly every level on every page. The sounds and graphics are perhaps a little juvenile, but I am not ashamed to admit that I am a big fan of this game. Very fun, but for me, something of an amateur, still challenging. 

Plants vs Zombies

This is my most recent addiction, discovered in the past month or so. The premise of this game is stupidly simple. You have plants, you plant them. Zombies attack, and you have to use plants to fight them off. But, I have played this game for hours on multiple occasions. I sucks me in! I say one more level, and then ten levels later, I am telling myself that this will be the last level I do, and then I am taking a break. And... you get the picture. I am sure the initial obsession will weaken with time. But I feel very silly every time I have "wasted" three hours playing this game. 

Images obtained from here, here and here.
[note, more for me than for anyone reading, but I had planned to post this yesterday, but then had issues with acquiring internet access... one of those things, do you best, and don't be to hard on yourself when your best is "less."]

Crush

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, 

it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."

— Albert Einstein

I have a crush, admiration, obsession with this man! I wonder if we would have connected at all face to face, or if his greatest relationships are those with the parts of his mind we have recorded. At any rate, a brilliant man on multiple levels, and a source of inspiration that always seems to pop up when I need it. Thank you, Albert, my heart melts with gratitude for you. 


Picture obtained here.

Bird

flapping wildly
chaotic
out of control
frenetic
just to gain a few feet of air


but the view is worth it


and how else will I learn how to glide?

A Creative Companion

I was hooked in and delighted by this book! Every page is a special treasure of simple but powerful inspiration for artist, writers, but really for anyone looking to live life to the fullest. A book, that before it begins has a list entitled "How to be an Artist," and is followed by ideas such as: "learn to watch snails... swing as high as you can on a swingset, by moonlight...refuse to "be responsible"...believe in magic. laugh a lot...draw on walls...giggle with children...hug trees. write love letters." The cure all for anyone experiencing drudgery, monotony and boredom with their days. This book does not take long to read, at all, and I know I will be reading it again very soon!

image retrieved from: http://covers.openlibrary.org/w/id/687780-L.jpg

Character Crush

So, my most recent indulgence in a silly show was a mild obsession with "Drop Dead Diva," in which I developed a crush on the character Tony. *Sigh* He is dreamy. The problem with a character, is that they are not that person in real life, so it is crushing on an imaginary person. I am not entirely sure how I feel about this. David Denman is a beautiful guy, at least I think so, but I have only seen him in a silly chick flick. Ridiculous. I suppose I have the opportunity to see other films and shows he has been in. Would that only deepen the childish infatuation. I think crushes are good though. Fun to have sometimes. But, usually they are more fun when there is an opportunity to actualize on personal experiences. What do you think about crushes. Who do you crush on? Famous and non famous? 


image retrieved from: http://image.com.com/tv/images/processed/default/0d/6b/323141.jpg

Train of Thought

who I am
does it matter 
or 
who I think I am
or
what I do


what I do to you
a balloon, full of helium
rising, rising, rising
until too high


then the slow death


is it painful
it hurts me
it liberates me
we are both free


I want to be naked
completely exposed
all of the layers
to you
but I cannot


me or you
does it matter
who I am
or 
who you think I am


I am naked


wearing socks
and a scarf
a necklace, gloves
a raincoat, just in case
poncho for warmth
summer dress for style
over the poncho, naturally


but my eyes, 
you can see in there
if I let you look at them
perhaps long enough
my heart and soul
I will be naked
with all of my clothes on


I will just be
with you
naked
me


please take my clothes off
please look in my eyes
see through the shenanigans
breathe
bend
open
stretch
move
apart and then together
we are doing the same dance
we always have been
just never found the right partner, until


MAGIC

Magical Moment

Sun dancing through the trees. A tea party in a backyard garden, surrounded by a hundred dancing grasshoppers, and gazed upon by more flower faces. Beautiful people, beautiful conversation. Fairies greeting and singing with our souls. I was transplanted into a magical world, where anything was possible.


I am grateful for the lovely host, and random appearance and reappearance as a character in the drama of my life. For her invitation, smile and light. 


I am grateful for grasshoppers. As a child I would watch them, chase them, catch them, but most of all I would leap with them. My brother would shoot them with BB guns. Bless his heart. Silly boys. Random facts, gracias to wikipedia: Female grasshoppers are often larger than males, and have shorter ovipositors (tubular organ through which eggs are deposited). There are more than 11,000 species of grasshoppers. I am pulled back to a time of fairy tales, the grasshopper and the ant, and the sense of antiquity that arises when one gazes upon the creatures. 


I am grateful for flowers, their smiling faces and personalities enriching an afternoon and a life. Their colors and aromas connecting us back to the divine. I am reminded of the "Flower Sermon," by Buddha, in which he gazed upon a flower. One spectator understood, and was enlightened. They are a channel, a vortex. Flowers are incredible, in their adaptations and ways of interacting with the world and the creatures they encounter. Their hardiness and determination to bloom. They are one of the embellishments that completes a life. 


It was a good day. 

Personal Musings

So, I have just begun a new blog. Soon to be filled with new ideas, links, goals, stories, and more. But now it is sad and empty. This first post is something of a new beginning, setting affirmations and plans for the future. I love the idea of setting daily, weekly, monthly, and annual goals. Keeping in mind that in working towards these, I will do my best everyday, and not beat myself up for not being perfect, or constantly becoming better. 


I have just re-read "The Four Agreements," by Miguel Ruiz. Be impeccable with your word. Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions. Always do your best. 


In addition to working on these, I have the following personal goals:

• Meditate. Twice a day. Twenty minutes each.
• Do yoga. At least a sun salutation daily.
• Write three pages, train of thought, daily.
• Blog daily.
• Be naked outside, at least one hour a week.
• Stargaze one night a week. 
• Read a new book, weekly, or bi-weekly.
• Paint or draw, at least twice a week. 

I would like to be open to the pushes and pulls of the universe in guiding me where I am to be. I would like to reconnect with former lives, and with the divine within myself. And I would like to play. Smiling, having fun, joking. Life is wonderful.